Commentary

A group of five people, dressed in professional attire, sit on chairs on a stage in front of a crowd, with a banner behind them reading “Governor Candidate Forum.” Four of the five people sitting on stage have their hands up to answer the question while a crowd of people watches in the dark.

No clear frontrunner for governor, but new poll names five with the best shot

A poll shows three Democrats and two Republicans have voter support percentages in the teens. The top two vote-getters in June will face off in November.

By Dan Walters

A person in medical protective clothing, wearing a face mask and a hair net, pushes a hospital gurney through a hallway inside a hospital, viewed from an open door.

She spent six of her last years in arbitration with her HMO. Her husband’s still fighting the system

Arbitrators in medical disputes are supposed to be unbiased, but this couple suspected there is an incentive to favor HMO’s in arbitration.

By Stephen Martinez

Two people face each other as they speak: the person on the left has a happy expression and her arm to her chest, while the person on the right wears a grey suit jacket and glasses. Both people are standing in a park area on a sunny day. In the background is a fence to a baseball field.

A former political ally tests LA liberals’ allegiance to Mayor Karen Bass

Mayor Karen Bass isn't vulnerable on her right, but she may be on her left, as City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a Democratic Socialist and ex-supporter, runs against her.

By Jim Newton

A close-up view of a person's hand holding a sign that reads "We wants answers! No more deaths!" and they stand at the front steps of a building surrounded by other people holding signs.

California promised accountability for inmate deaths in jails. A year later, no results.

Lawmakers passed a law creating a state department to review inmate deaths, but it hasn’t completed a single death review in its first year.

By David Myers

A person, wearing a black suit with a stripped-pattern tie, stands in front of a podium with a red sign on the front that says, "elections rigging response act" during a press conference. A crowd of attendees, many holding signs, can be seen standing in the background.

Commentary

‘These are not normal times’: Why Alex Padilla changed his tune on nonpartisan redistricting

Sen. Alex Padilla says "there's too much at stake" for Democrats to remain idle in a political arms race between red and blue states. Meanwhile, he plans to introduce legislation that would establish independent redistricting commissions in every state.

By Jim Newton • September 18, 2025

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at an event in anticipation of signing a bill on his proposed profit penalty plan in Sacramento on March 28, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr. , CalMatters

Commentary

How Gavin Newsom channeled Jerry Brown 1.0 with his flip-flop on oil and gas

A year ago, Newsom was denouncing gasoline refiners for gouging consumers and pocketing huge profits. During the just-concluded legislative session, however, he and legislators acted to increase oil production in California. What happened?

By Dan Walters • September 18, 2025

A Bay Are Rapid Transit train waits in station on July 3, 2022. Photo by Michael Ho Wai Lee, Sipa USA via Reuters

Commentary

California Legislature leaves Bay Area transit bailout in limbo

The state budget approved in June contained authorization for a $750 million loan. But legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom couldn't complete a deal on terms by end of session last week.

By Dan Walters • September 17, 2025

Oil pumps around the Elk Hills Power Station along Elk Hills Road on March 29, 2024. The Elk Hills oil field is the site of the new carbon capture project that captures carbon emissions from oil and gas facilities and then injects them underground. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Commentary

Why fast-tracking oil drilling in California won’t lower prices at the pump

Lawmakers just enabled fast-tracking of new oil drilling permits in Kern County. Gas prices are mainly moved by other economic forces.

By Deborah Sivas • September 16, 2025

Gas prices in East Los Angeles on Sept. 29, 2023.

Commentary

California faces a self-created oil and gas crisis. Lawmakers should consider these steps next

Newsom’s long-overdue acknowledgement of a pending gasoline crisis — together with the Legislature’s last-minute actions — are a start, but also a piecemeal approach to addressing a critical problem.

By Michael Mische • September 16, 2025

Sunlight illuminates a portion of a street as a person, holding multiple bags, walks with two pitbull dogs standing behind them. A brick wall filled with graffiti and a brown truck can be seen nearby.

Commentary

California’s sky-high living costs afford it the nation’s highest poverty label — again

California ties Louisiana for the highest share of poor people. Lawmakers say they just passed bills that will lower housing, electricity and gasoline costs.

By Dan Walters • September 16, 2025

An individual wearing a red hoodie and cap uses a broom to clean a concrete walkway near a house surrounded by trees. A burned-out car is visible on the left side of the image, and debris from a fire is scattered around the property under a clear blue sky.

Commentary

After LA fires, a ‘toxic soup’ lingers in the homes that remain, endangering families

After the Eaton and Palisades fires, some still standing homes are embedded with toxic residue, including cyanide, asbestos and heavy metals. Insurers don’t want to cover this.

By Nicole Kolinsky • September 15, 2025

Protesters, wearing traditional Palestinian scarves, hold signs that read "immigrants we build America" and "Fight ignorance not immigrants" during a protest.

Commentary

Mask bans in California create constitutional questions that are hard to answer

Efforts to ban masks on protesters and to unmask law enforcement officers often balance competing societal priorities.

By Stephen Routh • September 12, 2025

A fast food employee stands and talks to customers behind the restaurant counter with the menu displayed behind them. In the foreground is the over-the-shoulder view of two customers as they talk to the employee.

Commentary

Two years later, Californians still don’t know full impact of the $20 fast food wage

Fast food prices barely went up but jobs held steady after the wage increase, researchers in a union-friendly economic center wrote. But an industry-backed study said 19,000 jobs were lost.

By Dan Walters • September 12, 2025

A row of colorful Victorian houses, known as the Painted Ladies, with the San Francisco skyline in the background under a pastel pink and purple sunset sky.

Commentary

Political change is coming to San Francisco Bay Area, a Democratic stronghold

Two mayors, San Francisco’s Daniel Lurie and San Jose’s Matt Mahan, personify the rising influence of centrists among Bay Area Democratic leaders.

By Dan Walters • September 11, 2025

California Voices

Viewpoints from across California